The Almost Prank
Disclaimer: I do not own HArry Potter. This idea was even borrowed. I hope you enjot this though any way.
Lily had just overheard James and Sirius plotting against Snape yet again. Only this time she feared that real harm could be done. Hoping that she was not too late, Lily went to the only person she believed could help her, her fellow Gryffindore Prefect Remus Lupin. Remus was a good friend of the pair and often tried to talk them out of their pranks. Seeing Remus she ran up to him. "Remus," she called. "I need to speak to you."
"Hi, Evans," Remus exclaimed with a grimace. He hated when people yelled his name because it hurt his sensitive ears. "What can I do for you?"
Not one for small talk Lily jumped right into the problem. "I need you to talk to Potter and Black," Lily stated. "I overheard them talking about a very dangerous prank they plan to pull. They were actually joking about it."
"What kind of prank," Remus asked still grimacing. "Their pranks are generally harmless enough." If Remus was going to get James and Sirius to stop the prank he would need information.
"It has something to do with the giant squid in the lake," Lily commented with a shiver. "They also mentioned some type of potion. But that could be any that Potter makes. He is terrible at them. They were headed to the Common room last I saw them."
"I'll see what I can do," Remus said heading for the Gryffindore Common room. "I can't make any guaranties though. Once those two set their mind on something they hardly ever change it. By the way who was it they planned to prank anyway."
"It was Snape," Lily snorted. She hated how they treat the poor boy. If they would just leave him a lone she would be a lot happier.
"Ah yes," Remus replied. " Snivillus. Their favorite target. You sure don't ask much, do you? I'll see what I can do."
As Remus sountered up the stairs to find his friends he noticed a cloud of blue smoke cooming out of the dorm room. As he opened the door he was meet by more of the blue smoke which was occupanied by the pugnent smell of rotted fishguts. As he walked into ythe room he found James stooped over a couldren intently stirring the blue liquid inside, wnile Sirus was rumaging in a trunk full of potion ingredients. Remus had to hold back a smile seeing these two working so intently, if though he was very troubled by the fact that they seemed to be having a good time. Most people didn't know that his two friends were very good at making potions. They loved to screw off in class and always screwed the potions up. "What are you two brewing?" Remus asked coming over to them.
"It is a hallucination potion that we are going to give to Snivillus," James replied looking up from the potion. "You should have heard what he said about Lily the other day. He deserves what he has coming to him."
"And what exactly is coming to him?" Remus asked. Remus figured the more information he got the better he would be able to talk them out of whatever they were planning on doing.
"We are going to get Snivillus to go down by the lake," Sirius started. "Which won't be that hard to do since he is always down there reading anyway. Then we are going to force the potion down his throat and he will believe that the lake is grass. When he walks into the lake the squid will be there waiting for him."
"Doesn't it sound like a great prank," James broke in. "All we have to do is wait for the right time of day. He will never pick on Evans again. And after all she does for him."
"You know if you guys put as much time into your schoolwork as you did in your pranks you'd get better grades," Remus observed.
"Maybe," James consented. "But it wouldn't be as much fun."
"And exactly how are you goys going to get him to drink the potion?" Remus wondered.
"If we told you that it wouldn't be as much fun," James deadpaned.
"Besides the less you know the better for you," Sirius jumped in. "You know to much already. Besides if we told you everything you would get in trouble if we got caught."
"You know someone could get really hurt over this one," Remus said. "What if that someone is one of you?" He hoped this tactic would work. He knew that both Sirius and James were very loyal to their friends and didn't want anything to happen to them.
"Come on,Moony," James said. "Nothing is going to happen. We have it all planned out. It'll be perfect."
"And what- you were going to leave Peter and I out of it," Remus tried this tact not so much to talk them out of the prank but to buy him sometime to figure out a way to talk them out of it.
"We can't risk you getting into trouble," James said.
"After all, you are a Prefect," Sirius added. "And Peter would get in the way. You remember what happened last time. Now he is serving a month worth of detention becouse he was to slow in getting a way. Besides like you said someone could get hurt."
"So you have it all figured out then," Remus said. There was only one way he was going to get the two of them to stop this prank. He just hoped it would work.
"Yes we do," James said. "It is for house honor and what's more it is for the honor of a women."
"What if she doesn't want you to do this?" Remus asked. There he had done it, he had played the last card he had.
"If Evans asks me not to do it, I may reconsider," James said with a twinkle in his eye.
Remus did not like that look. James always got that look when he was planning something.
"Have you talked to her about it," Remus asked. "Have you even found out how she feels about this?"
"No," James said. He turned back to the cauldron and finished the potion. As he leasureely stirred the potion it changed to a dusty pink. He had almost forgotten that Remus had not left the room.
"Ihave one more question for you two," Remus said. HE might not be able to stop them, in fact it was clear that he couldn't. But if he could find out when they going to pull the prank, he could tell Lily and may be she could talk them out of it. After all James had said that he would reconsider if Lily asked him to. "When its this thing going down?"
"Tomorrow, so stay away from the lake," Sirius said.
The next day Lily headed for the lake. She is on a mission. She had to find James and Sirius. She had to stop them from what they were going to do. Finally spotting James she runs up to him. "Hey, Potter," Lily started.
"What do you want,Evans," James exclaimed looking up through narrowed eyes. "I was taking a nap."
"I want you to stop the prank you are going to pull"
"Can't," James said simply.
"Why can't you," Lily asked. He could be so infuriating sometimes.
"Because, Snivillus insulted you and your honor," James said still not looking at her.
"Is there anyway that I can get you to change your mind?"
"There may be one. But knowing you, you'll probablely never do it."
"What is it? I don't want you to get in trouble. I'll do anything. Besides it should be my choose rather I want you to do this or not. According to me, it is my honor you are defending."
"Fine. You don't want me to pull the prank," James had now stood so he could look down on Lily. "Kiss me and I won't pull the prank."
"You promise," Lily said. "Now she had heard everything. James had been trying to go out with her for six and a half years. Maybe now he would leave her alone.
"Yeah. I promise. On my honor and the honor of our house." Lily could tell he was serious. IF there was one thing that James understood it was honor. He was big on honor. Most people didn't think James was very honorable, but whe nhe made a promise he stuck to it. True he did pull many pranks but that was the side he liked to show the world.
"Fine," Lily said bracing herself for the kiss. She knew she was going to hate it, but if this was the only way to get him to call off the prank she would do it.
"Come on, Evans, it won't be that bad," James said lowering his mouth onto hers. Then it happened. Lily couldn't help herself. The kiss was so kind and protective she couldn't help herself from responding. She actually felt abandoned when James pulled away. "You liked that, didn't you?" James said looking into Lily's eyes. "I can tell you didn't want it to stop." Before Lily could respond James pulled here down on the grass beside him.
"Will you call off the prank," Lily asked still flustered.
"I promised," James said grabbing Lily's hand. "I promised on my honor and the house honor. I will call off the prank. Sirius and I won't pull the prank."
"Will you stop picking on Snape," Lily asked. She hated the way they always picked on him. She had asked this question before and James had always refused to answer it. Something told her that now might be the time to ask.
"I'll tell you what," James murmered getting lost in her eyes. "You go out with me for a little while and then we'll talk about it."
"This is blackmail," Lily stated. This was infuriating but she didn't want to leave. She wanted the comfort of being by James.
"It might be," James said running his finger down Lily's face before bringing his lips down on hers again. "But, this feels so right. And you don't want it to end anymore then I do. Do you?"
"No," Lily said wrapping her arms around James. "You leave Snape a lone and I'll go out with you. Sounds like a wi -win situation to me."
"What is the deal with you and him anyway?" James asked inches from her mouth.
"I just... feel sorry for him I guess. He looks so sad. It doesn't help that you guys are always picking on him."
"Hey, Potter," Sirius called running up to the pair. "Are you..." He stopped mid-sentence realizing that he was interrupting something.
"I have to go," Lily said getting up. "I have some studying to do. I'll see you later." As Lily walked away, James followed her with his eyes.
"Earth to Potter," Sirius said waving his hand in front of James. "Are you there?'
"The prank is called off," James murmured, eyes still following Lily as she walked into the school.
"So you finally got her to kiss you," Sirius said. He knew that his best friend had been pining for Lily Evans. "Good going buddy. So now what should we do."
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